Still Dairy Prime

Grass quality is at prime quality, and mixed hay was still in the target zone for dairy quality at sampling this week, although we would expect it to advance past prime next week. Legume quality is reaching dairy quality stage and will be ready to harvest this week as well. It is also go time for harvesting hay for growing beef. Producers looking for forage for mature beef cows, lactating or dry, should wait at least another week.

Estimated days from 5/23 to reach target quality for classes of cattle.

Hay grew modestly taller this week gaining on the average less than five inches. Grass fiber changed more slowly than normal, only advancing about ½ point per day, legume fiber increased at a more normal rate of 1¼ points per day. Fiber digestibility (NDFD) decreased 4½ points during the week. Orchardgrass and other earlier maturing grasses are starting to head this week. As grasses produce heads, they will grow rapidly in height, but fiber content (aNDFom) will increase and fiber digestibility (NDFD) will go down just as fast. Energy (TDN) also decreases as plants mature and cell walls thicken and become more “woody”.

The Table below has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, and lists the species sampled, average height, Neutral Detergent Fiber (aNDFom), Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD), and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). We have sampled grass, legume and mixed legume/grass fields across the county and at elevations from 1070 to 2240 feet. Look for locations with similar forage type and elevation to your farm.